A method for operating a user interface, adapted to an electronic device. The steps include: receiving a wake-up signal; enabling a proximity sensing unit; determining whether the sensing value is greater than a predetermined value or not; displaying an application program in a first display area of a display unit by a processing unit and detecting a touch event corresponding to one of a plurality of sensing objects only by a second touching sensing area of a touch-sensing unit when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value; obtaining a touch position corresponding to the touch event; and enabling an operation of the application program by the processing unit according to the touch position. A first touch-sensing area of the touch-sensing unit corresponds to the first display area, and the second touch-sensing area corresponds to a second display area.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An electronic device suite, comprising: a protective cover, comprising: a front cover, comprising a window and an operating area, wherein the operating area has a plurality of sensing objects; and a back cover, connected to the front cover; an electronic device, configured on the front cover, comprising: a proximity sensing unit, adapted to detect a sensing value corresponding to a relationship between the front cover and the electronic device; a display unit, comprising a first display area and a second display area; a touch-sensing unit, comprising a first touch-sensing area and a second touch-sensing area, wherein the first touch-sensing area corresponds to the first display area and the second touch-sensing area corresponds to the second display area; and a processing unit, adapted to determine whether the sensing value is greater than a predetermined value or not, wherein the processing unit enables a first application program and displays the first application in the first display area when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value, and enables an operation of the first application program according to a touch position of a touch event corresponding to the sensing objects detected by the second touch-sensing area; wherein when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value, the touch-sensing unit shadows or the processing unit ignores a sensing signal received from the window.
An electronic device setup includes a phone or tablet and a protective cover. The cover has a front piece with a window exposing part of the screen, and an area with touch-sensitive spots. A back cover connects to the front. The device uses a sensor (like a proximity sensor) to know if the cover is closed. When closed, the device activates a specific application and displays it on the screen area visible through the window. Only the touch-sensitive spots on the cover are active for controlling the application. Touch input on the window area of the screen is ignored. The touch-sensitive spots on the cover are used to interact with the application.
2. The electronic device suite as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processing unit ignores other touch events within the first touch-sensing area when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value.
Building on the previous device setup, when the cover is closed and the proximity sensor detects it, the device ignores any accidental touches on the screen area visible through the window, ensuring that only the touch-sensitive spots on the cover control the application, preventing unintended actions.
3. The electronic device suite as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display unit is covered with the front cover when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value.
As in the first device setup, the phone/tablet screen is completely covered by the front cover when the proximity sensor indicates that the cover is closed. This ensures only the operating area with sensing objects are exposed, and that unintended touch on the screen itself is prevented.
4. The electronic device suite as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processing unit enables the operation according to the touch event within the first touch-sensing area and the second touch-sensing area when the sensing value is less than the predetermined value.
Expanding the device setup description, when the proximity sensor indicates the cover is open (not closed), the device responds to touch events on both the screen area visible through the window and the touch-sensitive spots on the cover. This allows for normal touchscreen operation when the cover is open, giving full control to all touch input.
5. The electronic device suite as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensing unit is a Hall-Effect sensor.
As described in the first device setup, the proximity sensor used to detect the cover's position is specifically a Hall-Effect sensor. This type of sensor detects magnetic fields and would react to a magnet embedded in the cover, determining if the cover is closed or open.
6. A method for operating a user interface, adapted to an electronic device, comprising: receiving a wake-up signal; enabling a proximity sensing unit; determining whether the sensing value received by the proximity sensing unit is greater than a predetermined value or not; displaying a first application program in a first display area of a display unit by a processing unit and detecting a touch event corresponding to one of a plurality of sensing objects only by a second touch-sensing area of a touch-sensing unit when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value, wherein a first touch-sensing area of the touch-sensing unit corresponds to the first display area, and the second touch-sensing area corresponds to a second display area of the display unit; obtaining a touch position corresponding to the touch event; and enabling an operation of the application program by the processing unit according to the touch positions; wherein when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value, the touch-sensing unit shadows or the processing unit ignores a sensing signal received from the first touch-sensing area.
A method for controlling a phone or tablet's user interface with a cover involves these steps: First, the device receives a signal to wake up. Next, a proximity sensor is activated. The device checks if the sensor value indicates the cover is closed. If closed, a specific app is displayed in the screen area visible through the window. Touch input is only recognized from a separate touch-sensitive area, such as the cover. The device finds the touch location on the cover and operates the app based on this input. Touch input on the screen area under the window is ignored.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the processing unit ignores other touch events within the first touch-sensing area when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value.
Further in the method, when the cover is closed, the device ignores other touches from happening within the first touch area (the screen visible through the window) completely, as described in the previous method steps. This prevents accidental input when using the external touch sensors.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the display unit is covered with a front cover when the sensing value is greater than the predetermined value.
As part of controlling the UI, when the proximity sensor indicates the cover is closed, the device’s screen is covered by the front cover, preventing touch within that area as described in the previous method description.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the processing unit enables the operation according to the touch event within the first touch-sensing area and the second touch-sensing area when the sensing value is less than the predetermined value.
In contrast to the described methods, when the proximity sensor indicates the cover is open (not closed), the device reacts to touch events on both the screen area visible through the window and the external touch-sensitive area, allowing for normal operation as described previously.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the proximity sensing unit is a Hall-Effect sensor.
Expanding on the process, the proximity sensor used to detect the cover's position as part of the described method is specifically a Hall-Effect sensor, using magnetic field detection to identify the cover's state, as previously detailed.
11. A protective cover, adapted to an electronic device, comprising: a front cover, comprising a window and an operating area, wherein the operating area has a plurality of sensing objects; and a back cover, connected to the front cover; wherein a first display area of the electronic device corresponds to the window and the second display area corresponds to the operating area, and the electronic device enables an operation of an application program only according to a touch event within the operating area when the electronic device is covered with the front covers; wherein when a sensing value detected by the electronic device is greater than the predetermined value, the electronic device shadows or ignores a sensing signal received from the window.
A protective cover for a phone or tablet has a front with a window (for the screen) and an area with touch-sensitive spots. It also includes a back. When the cover is closed, the device displays an application visible through the window, and only responds to touches on the designated touch-sensitive spots (operating area). Touches on the screen visible through the window are ignored.
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April 21, 2015
June 20, 2017
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